Automatic foldable cover.



A. W. HULMAN.

AUTOMATIC FOLDABLB COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1913.

l 1 08,"7 57 Patented Aug. 25, 1914..v

/f s ill I" /3 1.45 5% THE NORRIS PETERS CO,. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINTON. DA C.

IIS

i "NTE ALFRED`W. HOLIVIAN, OF STL MATTHEWS, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC FOLDABLE COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .T une 2, 1913.

Patented Ani l2li, 19.1.4. Serial No. 771,290.

a especially for use on typewriters, cash registers or the like. y

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a cover of this character wherein the same will automatically fold and unfold, thereby obvi-ating the necessity of the placing of a cover on a typewriter or the removal thereof from the same by hand as is usual.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cover of this character which y is automatic in action for the folding of the .same when the typewriter is to be used and also for the unfolding thereof when the said typewriter is not in use, the cover structure ybeing of novel form and supporting a copy holder for the convenience of the operator of the machine.

A vfurther object of the invention is 'the provision of a cover of this character which is simple in construction, quick, reliable and eliicient in its operation, and also one which is inexpensive in manufacture.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a typewriter showing the cover constructed in accordance with the invention in folded and unfolded position, the flexible body of the cover being shown in section. F 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the cover, the same being unfolded. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the casing for the slide which operates the cover. Fig. 4t is a sectional view on the line -1--1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a slight modified form of operating mechanism for the cover. F ig. G is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the bows or frames of the cover, showing the copy holder attachment.

Similar reference characters :indicate corn responding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 10 designates generally the typewriter which is of any ordinary well-known construction having the base 11 which is a part of the frame of the said typewriterl as usual, and on this base is detachably mounted the cover hereinafter described.

The cover comprises a substantially U-shaped support 12 to which is centrally fixed a casing 18 through which is passed la rotatable shaft 14, the same being suitably journaled in the limbs 15 of the support 12 and has connected thereto the side arms 1G of a bow or frame 17, the side arms 1G being fixed to the said shaft 14 so that on thej turning of the latter the frame or bow 17 will be raised or lowered therewith. Pivoted at 18 to the side arms 16 of the bow or frame 17 is a swinging bow or frame 19 which is adapted to co-act with the bow 17 for the folding and unfolding of the cover in a manner presently;described.

Swingingly connected to the limbs'l 'of the support 12 is a frame 2O which together with the frames 17 and 19 support and carry a flexible body or cover Q1 adapted to be extended and collapsed on the unfolding and folding of the `frames with relation to each other for the vcovering `and uncovering of the typewriter 10 as will be clearly apparent, the folding and unfolding of the frames 'being accomplished in a manner presently described.

Arranged within the casing 13 is a slide or movable plate 22 provided with a substan'tially V-shaped vcam slot 23 in which are engaged pins 2a d 25 respectively, the same being also engaged and slidable in slots 26 formed in one face or wall of the said casing 13, and to these pins are connected revcrsely coiled tensioning springs 27 and QS respectively, each having one end fixed to the shaft 14, while its opposite end is connected to its respective pin so that on the displacement of the slide or plate 22 in one .direction one of the springs will act upon the shaft 14 for turning the same, while the other spring will simultaneously therewith become slackened so as not to iriterfere with the rotation of the shaft under the action of the spring operating thereon. 1When the slide or plate 22 is moved in the reverse direction the vspring previously active upon the shaft 14 for the turning 2O so as to limit the said swinging move-Ik thereof becomes slack while the other spring becomes tensioned for rotating theshaft in a reverse direction, and in these two movements of the shaft the frames 17 and 19 are raised and lowered or vice versa.

The limbs of the supportl have inbent at their-upper ends stop lugs 29 arranged in the path of swinging movement of the frame nient of the frame, which movement is very slight so that the frames 17 and 19 when raised into substantially parallel relation to the frame 2O the latter will swing rearwardly soV that the cover when folded will assume a 'position without interference with the working of the typewriter as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Formed in the outer wall ofthe casing 13 is an elongated slot 30 through which is iassed a lug or screw member 31, the same being engaged in the slide or plate 22 and also engaged with the rip-turned end 32 of an operating` rod 33 which is slidably mounted in a bearing or ear 34 on the support 2 and has formed at its outer opposite end a finger grip' or hold 35, the rod 33 being designed to operate the slide or plate 22 whenpushed or pulled upon for the folding or unfolding of the cover.y

Carried upon the bow or frame 17 is a copy holder attachment which is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and G and comprises a hook 36 having a stem orvshank 37 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in one of the side arms 16 of the bow or frame 17, the said arm beinghollow or tubiform to accommodate the-shank or stem, which latter is formed with spaced grooves 33 in either of which is adapted to engage a spring catch or latch 39 suitably mounted upon the arm. 16 so as to hold the stern or shank 37 projected or retracted in the arm. The inner end of the stem or shank 37 is formed with an eye 40 in which is connected one end of acoiled retractile spring 41, the opposite end of which is suitably fixed in the arm 1G, and this spring acts upon the copy holder to bring the same to normal position as shown in F ig. 6 of the drawing. The work to be copiedv is placed within the hook 36 when the cover is raised so that the notes can be conveniently read by the operator'of the typewriter.

In Fig. 5k there is shown a slight modilication of operating mechanism for' the cover,

ineens? wherein the shaft 42 for operating the bows or frames of the cover has connected thereto the reversely coiled springs 43 and 44 respectively, the latter spring `being also fixed to an arm 45'of an operating rod or shaft 46 ,which is supported for rocking movement in bearings 47 and is formed at its opposite end with crank handle 48, while the Hspring 43 v'is connected with the casing 49 and supports 50 carrying thevsame. The shaft 46 when operated tensions one spring and untensions the other yfor vautomatically turning the shaft in a vdirection tofold or unfold the cover as will be clearlyjapparent. rll'he crank handle 43 is" arranged-in` the path of `a locking device 51 which serves to hold the shaft 46 in adjusted position.

in operating the device the user manipulates the hand hold 35 or crank 48 to move the rod 33 or 50 which'under its influence makes the spring automatically effect the folding or unfolding of the cover in a manner as hereinbefore described; It is of course to be understood that the coverl can be -used for. various articles,and therefore.

the use of the same is notr'est'ricted to typewriters or cash registers hereinbefore mentioned.

From the foregoing it is thought that the l construction and mannerl of operation 0f the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has'been omitted. Y Y

What is claimed is y A cover comprising a U-shaped support, a'rotatable shaft journaled in the support, a bow frame having its limbs fixed to the shaft, a pair of bow frames, pivotedkto the .first-named frame and support respectively, a casing on the support, a slide in the casing and having a cam slot, pins mounted v'for vertical sliding movement within the casing and engaged in the cam slot, reversely coiled springs connected to the shaft and also connected to the said pins, a cover carried by the frames, and means for inovingthe slide for changing the position of the pins to alternately wind and unwind the said spring for the opening and closing of the cover.'

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. g

-V ALFRED l/V. HOLMAN. litnesses:

FRANK O. PARKER, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C.

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